biography
pronunciation:
[shevrohlay]
| sex:
| male
|
| lived:
| (1878–1941)
|
| biography:
| Racing driver and automobile designer, born in La Chaux de Fonds, Switzerland. He emigrated to the USA (1900) in order to race cars, and in his first race defeated Barney Oldfield. In 1905 he drove a record mile in 52·8 seconds. With the backing of William Crapo Durant, he founded the Chevrolet Motor Co (1911) and designed its first car. He sold out his interest in 1915 and concentrated on building racing cars, which were successful in the Indianapolis 500 in 1920 (with brother Gaston Chevrolet driving) and 1921. In 1929 he formed (with brother Arthur Chevrolet), the Chevrolet Brothers Aircraft Co, but this venture failed and he went back to building racing cars. |
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